‘Govt needs to repeal Vagrancy Act’

GOVERNMENT should repeal the Vagrancy Act and replace it with laws that promote human rights and dignity of the underprivileged, parliamentarians have heard.

Contributing to a motion raised by Deputy Zanu-PF Chief Whip and legislator for Bikita-Zaka Constituency Cde Anna Rungani recently, Buhera Central Member of Parliament Cde Rodney Muderedzwa, called on Government to repeal the Vagrancy Act, which sidelined society’s vulnerable groups.

He called for the repeal of all alien laws and their replacement with those that safeguarded the interests of the poor and the weak particularly street children, beggars and prostitutes.

The Vagrancy Act, which was enacted during the colonial period legalises the arrest of homeless people who have no form of income or homes and was used during the colonial period to arrest homeless black people and sent them back to communal lands.

“I am concerned by Government’s disinterest in addressing abnormalities in society, which include the abuse of alcohol and intoxicants by young people and the increase in the number of street kids, beggars and prostitutes in the country,” he said in the august House on Tuesday last week.

Mr Muderedzwa said there was an increasing number of beggars, street kids, street mothers, fathers and youths at road intersections and pavements in urban areas.

“We call upon Government to repeal laws such as the Vagrancy Act, which are alien to safeguarding the interests of the poor and the weak,” said Cde Muderedzwa.

Cde Muderedzwa said it was important for Government to introduce laws that were in agreement with the process of upholding human rights and dignity of the underprivileged.

“It is a constitutional duty for Government to play a paternal role to vulnerable groups in society.

“Government should also engage the services of the abundant pool of social workers from institutions of higher learning in order to promote the reformation and rehabilitation of social misfits,” he said.